Variable multi-line printer



Oct. 23, 1956 F. J. FURMAN ETAL 2S7G7,646`

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER Filed Jan. 20, 1954 9 sheets-sheet 1 1N 1NSECOND F|RST READ READ coLe 1 SUPPLY PICKER INVENTOR. fle 1 HOPPERKN'VES .KENNETH E. RHODES FRANK J FURMAN WALTER w WAGNER ATTORN EYSECOND 1 READ FIRST READ 1 STACKER CARD GRIPPEB MECHANISM Oct- 23, 1956F. J. FURMAN ET AL 2,767,646

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER Filed Jan. 20. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 DIEROLL ocr. 2 3, 1956 F. J. FURMAN l ET A1.

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 20, 195.4

CASING C' 1, To AC' 921\ INVENTOR. KENNETH E. RHODES FRANK J, FURMAN ByWALTER w.l WAGNE j /ML fIIBJBCl ATTORNEY v0ct. 2:"1956 EJFURMAN my* l2,767,646

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER Q 000066966060' j @909640999090 f E I g g mv INVENTOR. KRNANI HJ E'FRS FIG 6b v By WALTER w. WAGNER ATORN Y Oct.23, 1956 F. J. FURMAN ET AL 2,767,646

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRNTER Filed Jan. 2o, 1954 9 siens-sheet 5 TRY TRY Bc PRINTING GROUP l 2 KENNETH E. RHODES FRANK J. FURMAN` FIG *6 BY WALTERw. WAGNER ATTORNEY Oct.i23, 1956 F. J. FURMAN ET A1. I 2,767,646

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER l fl 6d ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 F. J.FURMANl ET AL VARIABL MULTI-LINE PRINTER A ENTRY Oct.` 23, 1956 FiledJan. 2o, 195.4

STORAGE D E 1T INVENTOR.

ALTR 'w.v WAGNER ATTORNEY Y STORAGE El 9- STORAGE B EXIT A STORAGE Oct.23, 1956 Ft J, FURMAN ET ALy 2,767,646

VARIABLE MULTI-LINE PRINTER Filed Jan. 20;' 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 flG.'7

ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1956 F. J. FURMAN ET AL VARIABLE 'MULTI-LINE PRNTER 9Sheets-Shea?l 9 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 nited States Patent O VARIABLEMULTI-LINE PRINTER Application January 20, 195'4, Serial No. 405,222

Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates generally to printing andrecord feeding devices and more particularly to means for printingaddresses on a web of record material under control of a printingtabulator through which are passed tabulating record cards bearing nameand address data.

In large business establishments employing mechanized card controlledaccounting systems it is customary to have the name and address cardsseparate from the socalled transaction or detail cards which bearinformation concerning a particular item of sale or service rendered.Periodically bills are prepared for the consumer and the procedure ingeneral entails the sorting and merging of the detail cards with relatedname and address cards and thereafter passing them through cardcontrolled printing tabulators of the type wherein a single line ofprinting impressions is obtained for each machine cycle of operation.

The bill is prepared by listing the name and address parts in theso-called heading section and listing the detail data in the bodysection. Along with the detail listing of data, the machine isundergoing the various calculations associated with each transaction soas to obtain the necessary total charges. Because of the fact that theprinting line in these particular billing procedures is relatively wideand that it includes the calculations the single line of printing foreach machine cycle is justifiable.

However, such speeds would be too slow for producing n address stripsused for mailing purposes. Therefore, while it is desirable to use thesystem of name and address cards already in existence for an additionalpurpose it is even more desirable to provide some Way of speeding thepreparation of addresses per se particularly when the address has noparticular relation to the processing of numeric accounting data. Forthat purpose there is provided the inventio-n described in acopendingapplication to l. I. Nolan, Serial No. 324,563, tiled December6, 1952.

In said Nolan application means are provided whereby three or fouraddress lines may be printed simultaneously from a succession of recordcards through the full utilization of the entire range of print capacityof a machine such as a tabulator which ordinarily includes from 100 to120 separately adjustable printing members arranged in a single lineacross the width of the printer unit of the machine. The full employmentof the printing members is made possible as described in said Nolanapplication by subdividing the 120 positions of printing across thetabulator into equally spaced groups and using them simultaneously forseparate address parts of different addresses, such as printing the nameof one, the street identification of a second and the city and stateidentification of a third. In order to accomplish this the narrowaddress strip or tape is arranged diagonally across the printing linewith the strip length running along the length of the printing line andwithin the range of the full width of the printer unit and arranged sothat the several different portions of impressions fall along the lengthof the strip and on different line space portions. The angle 0finclination of the strip from the horizontal is such that 2,767,646Patented Oct. 23, 1956 when the strip is advanced a space equivalent tothe spacing of the separated groups of the aligned type members, theprinted address line of one portion is not only advanced but alsoelevated one line space with respect to the printing line. Therefore,while the strip is only advanced the length of one address portion foreach cycle, it has printed thereon three, four or more address linessimultaneously on several adjoining tags and thus the printing of amultiple line address portion or tag is completed on each tabulatorprinting cycle with a gain of time which is threefold or more. It must,however, be realized that the addresses produced in this manner inaccordance with the above-mentioned Nolan application are a product ofsingle card addresses, that is to say, that the plurality of addressparts related to a single address are recorded in a single card.

The present invention is therefore an improvement over the inventiondescribed in the aforementioned Nolan application in that the presentinvention is provided with means for enabling the printing of asuccession of `addresses on a record strip from source records in whichat least one name card and at least one address card comprise an entireaddress, the former card constituting the first line of the address, thelatter constituting the remaining portions of the address.

Another object resides in the provision of means for enabling theprinting of a succession of addresses at a relatively high rate of speedon a record strip from source records wherein the complete address mayappear on a single record or may be distributed on at least two records.

Still another object resides in the provision of means for enabling theprinting of a succession of addresses at a relatively high rate of speedon a record strip from source records wherein the character of theaddresses may vary anywhere from a single line address to a multipleline address which may or may not be distributed in a plurality ofrecords. v

Yet another object resides in the provision of recording control meanswhereby the recording means may be selectively controlled.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of the general organization of the meansfor printing a succession of addresses on a strip from a plurality ofaddress cards.

Fig. 2 shows in diagrammatic form the feed of the tabulator.

Fig. 3 shows the strip feeding device.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the punch roll and the die roll.

Fig. 5 is a code chart wherein alphabetic and numeric characters arerepresented by a combination of zone and numeric designations.

Figs. 6a .to 6e is the circuit diagram.

Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, are timing and operational charts.

Pig. 9 is a diagrammatic form of card detecting control circuit.

For the purposes of illustration the invention is shown in connectionwith an alphabet printing tabulator of the kind disclosed in the patentto Rabenda, No. 2,569,829, filed May 3, 1949, and issued October 2,1951. This patent illustrates the main components of a tabulator knownas the IBM 407 alphabet printer with storage. Heretofore, it was usedprimarily for printing addresses and accounting data on wide recordmaterial advanced vertically with respect to the printing unit. Also ofnote is the copending Beattie et al. application, Serial No.

74,424, filed von February 3, 19,49, for a record controlled Printingmachine, .new U.. S. Patent No. 2,687,086. Y

Figure 1 of the Nolan application, Serial No. 324,563, filed December 6,1952, shows a narrow strip of address receiving material advanceddiagonally across the lplaten and behind an inking ribbon arranged inthe usual fashion paralleliand coincident with the printing line acrossthe printer o f the tabulator in front `of' a plurality of separately,adjusted type wheels of `the printer. The type wheels` are provided withprinting controls which are adjusted to` cause the various addressparts, or the like, to be printed with equal spaces therebetween, thewidth of cach space being equal to the width of a printed addressportion. Perforated records each containing a complete 'address are fedsuccessively out of a magazine` and through a `prescnsing station andsuccessively through a first `reading station, a second reading stationand then to a stacker,

This is all `described in `detail in the Rabenda patent-and it issufficient to state that when the record card appears at the rst readingstation the` electrical sensing devices therein :cooperate with the cardportion devoted to name dataperforated `therein and such sensingportions are connectedtothe first group of address printing members forprintingthe name. When the same card advances into the.secondreadirhg`station therey two portions of the card are read;` thefirst portion isread into the second group of p rlilntingmernbers to indicate the middlepart, that is the street, partof the address,` while the third cardportion relating to city and state is directed into one of two storagede,vic :es ..V The last-mentioned data is read `out of storage ontheffoliowing cycle to print the city and state from the third group, ofprinting wheels.

Thus, there results from the successive impressions of three differentaddress portions and diagonal elevation of the strip, a'complete threeline address printed for each tabulator printing cycle after` the` firsttwo. lt is to be not-ed, however,` that in this operation each addressis a Product of a Single card address. Now we shall see how thefinstantinvention increases the flexibility of operation @accommodate addresscards wherein the address portions "are` distributed in at least twocards and wherein each address may be either a three line or a four lineaddress..

GENERAL `MODE OF OPERATION Referring `to Figi of theinstant applicationthere is shown in diagrammatic `form the general organization ofthemeansfor printing a succession of addresses on a strip SM which ismoved` diagonally from, right to left across the printing line"y of atabulator lof the type such as the 407 type mentioned hereinabove. Theprintingl instrumentaiitiesof this 4 07 machine are divided into fourgroups representedby the fourvertical columns 4, 3, 2 and l` on theleft-hand side of the drawing. j These vertical columns 4 i9 l.afsfvfthstdivitled by 13. hrizontal lines t0 represent l2 printingcycles of the tabulator. Thus, eachpprinting cycle is representedby ahorizontal row` of four rectangleslsuch as 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A and withineach rectanguiarl box` there are tobe noted `hort horizontal linesoneofl. which is a solidline whereas the others are broken lines. Thesolid line indicates a line of address which has just been printed` onthe strinS in a particular cycle in progress, whereas ,the brokenlinesindicate the lines of addresses which have been printed on cycles priorto thecycle in 4which printinghas just been completed. The strip S isshown only for the first two cycles so as to avoid showingY unnecessarylines. The. four printing groups,

namely .4f3-2-14, will accommodate addresses fromone to tout;` linesinclusive. Thefirst line of an address is always printed by Vgroup 1,line 2, by group 2 and so on.

Onthe right-hand side of Fig.. l there are seen two vertical rows ofrecord cards, representative of a single deck` which is passedthroughthe feed of the 407 printing tabulatordescribed in the aforementionedRabenda patent anddiagnarnmatically shown in Fig. 2 ofthe instant appli`cation. The topY of-the extreme right-hand column repre- 4 i sents thefirst read station of thc 407 feed unit whereas the top of the `nextcolumn to the left represents the second read station of the 407 feedunit. The cards are then passed singly and successively from the feedmagazine to a presensing station and then Ithrough the first read andthen the second read and finally deposited in the stacker of the feed.For the particular purpose at hand we need only show the first andsecond read portions of the feed and the sequence of passing the cardsthrough the first and second read stations begins with the card which isindicated by the arrow 5; this is the first card entering the firstread. Following this the card proceeds to the second read indicated bythe curved arrow 6. Thus, in the first cycle shown the first addresscard is positioned in the first read and on the following cycle, cycle2, the first card occupies the second read while` the second card of thedeck now occupies the first read. the cards progress in this mannerfor12 machine cycles, the cycles being appropriately indicated by a columnof figures l to 12 immediately to the left ,of the second read.

It is to be noted that each card is divided into. three fieldsL numberedl, 2 and 3. Each field contains data rcpresenting a line of address. The`deck consists of three 'line address cards and four line address cards.The three line address cards contain a complete address on a single cardand each such card is identified by a notation 3U written across the topedge of the card, whereas the four Iline address cards are in two-cardgroups, with each card carrying only part of a complete address. Eachfour line address card is identified by a notation 4L written across thetop edge of the card. The first card of a four line address contains thename, which is recorded in field l. The second `card of-a four lineaddress contains three lin'esof address data respectively recorded infields 2, 3 and 4. lt is to be notcd that in the deck of l2 cards, fourcards represent four 3 line addresses while the remaining eight cardsconstitute four 4 line addresses. T hercolurnn of figures l through S onthe extreme righthand side of the drawing indicates the eight addresses.

In order to associate the various printed lines of `addresses on thestrip 3 with related address cards the following system of notations isused: AlLl denotes address 1, linel and is obtained from the first cardof the deck shown/in the extreme right-hand column. By the same tokenA3L4 denotes address 3, line 4 obtained from the fourth card of thedeck, which incidentally is the second card-of a four line address. ln aparticular cycle of printing the heavy horizontal line indicatesprinting of par-- ticular line of address; for example, AlLl` is printedin cycle l from printing group 1. A notation further char-- acterized bya prime, for example, AlLl indicates that the information was printed ona cycle prior to the `one in question; the primed notations are directedto the horizontal broken lines on the strip S.

Although details-of the cards are not shown, they are of atype shown inthe patent to` C. D. Lake, No. 1,772,492, granted August 12, 1930; Ingeneral, the cardh-as perforations, not shown, which are arranged invertical columns and in horizontal rows, through which pcrforationselectricalcircuits are made to control functions of the` machine.

The electrical circuits` are established by means of'l brushes, s uch`as 161, having connections to plug sockets, such as 939 (correspondingto 923 in Fig. 31g of the aforementioned Rabenda patent). Returning toFig. I. of the instantcasc, the above-mentioned brushes and plug socketsare shown diagrammatica'lly to the extent that brush 161 and itsassociated plug socket 923 in reality represent a plurality ofsuch`elements whereby an entire card fieldconstituting an address line isread. Thus, in the second read, brushes iol, lla and 16119 are eachrepresentative of a plurality of like elements arranged above the fieldsl, 2 and 3, respectively of a 3 line address or fields 2, 3 and 4,respectively of a 4 line address.

In the illustrative example mareas Field 1 is read by a brush 161e` alsorepresentative of a plurality of like elements located in the lirstread.

In like manner plug sockets 940, 940a, 940]; and 940C are eachrepresentative of a plurality of plug sockets each in turn connected toa printing wheel as shown in the R'abenda patent. In the instant caseeach plug socket 940 to 940C is associated with the printing groupsrespectively 4-3-2 and l and in which the appropriate address lines areset up and printed on thestrip S.

The printing of line 1 of tan address, regardless of whether it comesfrom a 3 .line or Ia 4 Iline address, extends through a path beginningwith brush 161C at the lirst read and following through plug socket 942,plug wire 10, plug socket 946C and int-o printing group 1. Thus, underprinting group 1 the following rst lines of the eight addresses of thedeck are printed: AlLl, A2Ll, A3Ll, A4Ll, ASLl, A6Ll, A7Ll and A8Ll.

Line 2 of a 3 line address is printed out of group 2 and is read out ofthe second read brush 161a through plug socket 929, plug wire a,normally closed points of R1557-2, plug wires 10c and 10d, plug socket940e to printing group 2. Data of this nature is shown printed as A1L2,A2L2, A5L2 and A7L2. On the other hand data representing line 2 andassociated with a 4 line address is als-o printed out of group 2, but inthis case, it is read from second read brush 161 through plug socket939, plug wire lub, normally open points `of R15602, plug wire 10d, plugsocket 940a to printing group 2. A3L2, A4L2 and A6L2 are examples.

It may be noted at this point that the selection of the second line fromeither a 3 line address card or a 4 line address card are under controlof a pair of relays identified as R155'7 Iand R1560 respectively,connected t-o a plug wire to a plug socket 92Sa leading to a rst readbrush 161d for sensing a special perforation 6 in column l of the secondcard of a 4 line address. The details of these controls will be morefully described under the circuit description. For the present, it issufficient to state that the selection device is the well-known pilotselector described in the aforo-mentioned Rabenda patient which whencontrolled as in this instance by the special perforation 6 causes theselection to be operative on the immediately following cycle therebyswitching the connections from field 2 of a 3 line address to field 2 ofa 4 line address.

Since the printings of lines 3 and 4 are effected on cycles followingthe cycle in which they are read in the second read, it is necessarythat the data be stored in storage units and released at the appropriatetime in a subsequent cycle. For this purpose storage units A, B, C and Dare provided. Units A and B are controlled to store associated with line3 whirle units C and D are controlled to store data associated with line4.

The storage units are of the type shown and described in the Rabendapatent. Since the storage units as shown therein have a limited capacityeach of eight positions for alphabetic storage it is understood that forcapacities of say up to positions of alphabetic storage it is onlynecessary to provide the machine with a suiicient number of storagedevices and to wire them in parallel. It is therefore to be understoodthat the diagrammatic representations of the storage units A, B, C, Dshown in Fig. 1 are each representative of the necessary units wired inparallel to accommodate the required alphabetic storage. It is to befurther observed that the entries to the four storage units arecontrolled through two entry plug sockets namely 928 and 928e when inactual practice each unit, having a capacity of eight alphabetic storagepositions, is provided with at least eight entry plug sockets. It istherefore to be understood that the entry of data representing line 3and line 4 is through the entry plug sockets 92Sa and 928C,respectively, and each plug socket is representative of at least 20entries and each entry corresponds to an associated column in a line ofaddress recorded' in an'address card.

Y 6 The storage exit is diagrammatically represented by tw exit plugsockets namely 941:1 and 941e` and it is understood here that each exitplug socket is also representative of a plurality of plug sockets.

In order to show the activity of each storage unit for each cycle ofoperation the storage units are shown duplicated for the 12 cycles ofoperation with a particular line of address shown as being read in on agiven cycle and read out on a subsequent cycle. The read-in and thereadout operations are shown represented by an arrow drawn in a verticaldirection with the top end of the arrow designating the point whereparticular address data is read into storage while the bottom or arrowend designates the point where the same address data is read out ofstorage. For example, under storage unit A it is to be observed that inthe second cycle data A1L3 (address 1, line 3) is read into storage unitA and held therein until released on the following cycle. By means ofthis system of representation the reading, storing and print of anyaddress data may be conveniently traced.

As a point of illustration, data representing line 3, for example AlL3,and associated with a 3 line address is read at second read (cycle 2) bymeans of brush 161b and transmitted through plug socket 931, plug wire10e, R155'l-3 normally closed points, plug wire 10j, plug socket 928aand into storage unit A. In the case of data representing line 3 (A3L3)but associated with a 4 line address a path of transmission follows fromsecond read brush 161a, plug socket 929, plug wire 10a, R1557-2 normallyopen points, plug wire 10k, plug hub 928a and into storage unit A.

The data representing A1L3 is read out of storage unit A on the thirdcycle and transmitted through wire 11, plug socket 941a, plug wire 12,plug socket 940b and printed out of printing group 3. 'If it shouldhap'- pen that a succession of 3 line addresses are passing through thefeed of the machine then it may be appreciated that storage units A andB are alternately used to store line 3 data. This is necessary in viewof the fact that when the line 3 of one address is being printed out ofstorage the next succeeding third line of datavis being read intostorage hence the necessity for two storage units. This of course, istrue as in the present case where a feed unit with but two sensingstations is employed.

The matter of controlling the alternation of Vstorage units A and B willbe discussed in more detail under circuits; for the present however, itis merely to be noted that the alternation occurs for example in cycle 3in which case data is being read into storage unit B while storage unitA is reading out data. The alternation of storage units A and B alsooccurs in cycles 5, 7, 8 and l0 but in these cases line 3 data isderived from 4 line address cards as well as from 3 line address cards.Thus, the period of alternation in these cases is different from thatobserved in cycle 3. The readout of line 3 data from storage unit Bfollows along line 11a, plug socket 941g, plug wire 12, plug socket 940band into printing group 3. Under printing group 3 it may be seen thatthird line data is printed in cycles 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11, respectivelyidentified as A1L3, A2L3, A3L3, A4L3, A5L3 and A6L3, the data identitiedwith 3 line addresses being A1L3, A2L3, A5L3 and A7L3 while theremaining ones represent data derived from 4 line addresses.

Line 4 data is of course, read from field 4 of a 4 line address, thedata is transmitted into storage and read out on a subsequent cycle intoprinting bank 4. In cycle 5, for example, a line 4 (A3L4) is encounteredand read out of second read by means of brush 161b, through plug socket931, plug wire 111e, R1557-3 normally open points, plug wire 10g, plugsocket 928e and into storage unit C, where it will remain until releasedon the eighth cycle and transmitted by way of wire 13, plug socket 941C,plug wire 14, plug socket 940 and into printing group 4.` It is `to beobservedthat the-release. of` the A7 data A3L4 occurs three cycles afterits entry intostorfage; This delay is due tothe fact thatthe 4 lineVaddress is distributed in two cards and a delay intime is` thereforeimposed in the printing. It is to-be further observed that the delay isshortened by acycle when a 4` line address is followed by a 3 lineaddress, this is true of A4L4 data which` isread into storage unit D oncycle 7 and read out two cycles later. The readout from storage Dfollows along line 13a, plug socket 941e, plug wire 14, plug socket 940and into printing group 4.

Now` there are to be considered the operations surroundingthe'movementof the strip S. The strip S is shifted, by meansto be described, after aprinting operation isexercised in printing group 1. Taking this as ageneral rule is may be appreciated in Fig. 1 that the strip S isdiagonally. shifted 8 times since there are 8 printing operationsexercised by printing group 1. Thus, after a printingroperation iscompletedV by printing group 1 the strip S is diagonally `shifted totheleft and held in readiness for fthe next recording operation. As earlierexplained, each diagonal shift of the strip causes the printed addressline to not only advance from one printing group to "theinext'succeeding printing group, but also elevates the strip one line spacewith respect to the printing line. The means for shifting the strip isunder control of a special'perforation in column l of the lirst card ofeach address. From an inspection of the address cards in Fig. 1 it maybe seen that a 3 perforation in column 1 identifies the first card of anaddress.` Since line l of an addressis printed from flrst read, thecontrol for shifting the strip is therefore taken from rst read column1.

The foregoing explains activities surrounding card reading, datastorage, printing and strip movement. Now there is to be pointed out inconjunction with these activitiesa novel feature of the invention.

Referring to Fig. l, specifically incycle 3, it is seen that threedifferent address parts namely A1L3, A2L2 and A3Ll lare printed, A1L3being derived from storage A, while A2132 is derived from a 3 lineaddress card located in the second read, and finally A3Ll is obtainedfrom the firstcard of a 4 line address located in the first read. Afterprinting the strip is shifted in the manner described. In the fourthcycle it is seen that the first card of the 4 line address is now in thesecond read while the second card ofl the same 4 line `address ynowoccupies the first read. If printing were permitted in this cycle thereare not onlywould result aduplication in the printing of A3Ll butalso-the incorrect positioning in the printing of A3142 in printinggroup 1. To avoid this` the invention provides printing control meansfor printing groups 1 and 2` and in this particular cycle-of operation,the printing is suppressed for printing groups 1 and 2. lt might also be`noted that no printing occurs in printing groups 3 and 4. In thisinstance printing group-4 does not print since data for line 4 has notbeen made available as yet while line y3 might have printed since it wasavailable in storage. The delay in printing line 3 until the followingcycle does not impose any additional time delay since the strip cannotbe moved until after printing has occurred in printing group l. In theabsence of a printing operation in :this fourth cycle the strip is notadvanced. On the following cycle, cycle 5, the second card of the 4 lineaddress in question` (address 3) now occupies the second read while. thefirst card ofthe next succeeding 4 line address (address 4) occupies thefirst read. From this set of conditions, printing is exercised forprinting groups l, 2 and 3 for the printing of A2L3, A3L2 and A4L1following which the4 strip is advanced. The printing control means isagain operative for cycle 6 in View of the fact that conditionsdescribedV for cycle 4 are now duplicated in this cycle. Thus, in-cycle.6 printing is suppressed for printing groupsl and 2 and printing inprinting groups 3 and 4 isnon-etective-because `of the conditionsimposed by the wiring controls which will be explained later on underthecircuit description. The situation is again repeated incycles 9 and.12 except that .in these cycles printing is `8 exercised for printinggroup 4. The. reason for this is the situation that` is. presented whena 3 line address follows a 4 line address.

Beginning with cycle3, the first address completed is a 3 line, addresscomprising AlLl', LlL2 and AlL3, the.

former printed on prior cycles while the latter is printed in thiscycle. Another 3 line address is completed in cycle 5 with the printingof A2L3. The first 4 line address is completed in cycle 8 with theprinting of A3L4. Here it is to be further observed that the addressportions A3L3', A3142 `and A3L1 were printed on prior cyclesrespectively in cycles 7, 5 and 3. Another 4 line address is completedin the following cycle, cycle 9. In cycle 10 another 3 line address iscompleted with the printing of A5L3. ln cycle 12 still another 4 lineaddress is completed with the printing of A6L4.

The foregoing explains in a general manner the printing of a successionof addresses on a record strip from source records consisting of 3 lineand 4 line addresses, the latter being distributed on at least twocards. Now there will be explained in greater detail theinstrumentalities and the controls associated therewith for producingthe address strip.

ALPHABET PRINTING MECHANISM The printing mechanism is of the kind shownand described in complete detail in the patent to R. E. Page and H. S.Beattie, No. 2,438,071, dated March 16, 1948. As described therein the`printing mechanism employs type wheels 36) each bearing the completealphabet A through Z, numeric characters 0 through 9 and othercharacters of a special nature. The wheel 369 is shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 3 of4 the instant'application.

The alphabet type are selected by impulses according to the code shownin Fig. 5. The particular O, X, or R impulse determines which of severaltype of a group selected by an impulse l9 will be printed. For example,if the impulse "2 and no pilot impulse is utilized, i. e., neither theO, X orR impulse, Vthe digit 2 will be printed. lf an impulse is also atO such impulse will select the S type; if the X impulse, type K will beselected and if the R impulse, type B will be selected.

Each impulse l9 selects a group of three non-numeral type and` also anumeral type. lf a numeral is to be selected for printing, the printingwill be under control of the N pulse, which pulse is after the R zoneimpulse (see Fig. 7, timing for N impulse). The alphabet type selectionis provided for by taking printing impressions before the time a numeraltype would have been printed and this is effectedv under control of theO, X and R im pulses.

If the impulse is 9 alone. the printing wheel 360 (Fig. 3) will berotated counterclockwisc until the 9 type is at the printing line andthen the printing wheel 360 will be rocked by the Npulse to effect theprinting impression. it will be noted that if an additional impulse suchasia l2 is delivered then, under control of this impulseithe printingwheel-will be rocked earlier than for printing the 9 digit to take animprint from the l type. The X zone impulse will rock the printing wheel36() to take an imprint still earlier to print R and the impulse 0 evenstill earlier to print Z.

The details of the printing mechanism are all very well explained in theattire-mentioned Page and Beattie patent as well as the patent toRabenda7 No. 2,569,829. In the latter in particular, the descriptionbegins on page 2l of the specification under the heading Alphabetprinting mechanism. For thepresent it is sufficient to say that eachprinting `wheel is under control` of a printing magnet 361, shown. inFig. 6c of the circuit diagram of thev instant case, the energization ofwhich will be described later4 on under the circuit description.

STORAGE MEANS ForY convenience, the storage` means are of. the typeshown in Fig. 18, of the labenda patent, No. 2,569,829..

ejerca Each storage unit shown therein has a capacity` of 16 positionsof numeric storage. When arranged for alphabetic storage however, theunit is capable of storing eight positions of alphabetic information.Each unit is adapted to be controlled by a restoring magnet identifiedas SRA in Fig. 20 of said patent. When this magnet is energized the unitis cleared and prepared for the receiving of information wired to theentry plug sockets of the unit. Each entry plug socket is connected to amagnet such as SA shown in Figs. 19 and 311' of said patent, whichmagnet when energized by a particular index point perforation 1-12 inthe record card, positions a movable setup ratchet member. In the caseof alphabetic data Where two perforations denote a character, two ofsaid magnets will be energized to store each character. This will bedescribed under circuits.

Now each of said so-called setup ratchet members of the storage deviceis provided with a readout structure comprising mainly a readoutcommutator having twelve spots or positions and a cooperating wiperwhich is positioned on a given readout spot in accordance with thepositioning of the setup ratchet. This is clearly shown in Figs. 19 and3li of said Rabenda patent and diagrammatically represented as storageA, B, C and D in Fig. 1 of the instant case.

STRIP FEEDING MEANS Although any type of strip feeding device might beemployed to move a strip longitudinally of the printing line, it isconvenient to employ the strip feeding device commonly associated withthe type 407 printing tabulator. Such a strip feeding device is shown inFigs. 21-30 and fully described in detail in the Rabenda patent, No.2,569,829. As explained therein this device is adapted to perform avariety of selective line spacing and sheet feeding operations undercontrol of a perforated tape.

To accommodate the diagonally disposed strip of the instant application,the strip feeding device of said Rabenda patent has been augmented bythe provision of means for supporting a supply roll of strip material, atake-up reel on which the printed strip is coiled and drive means foradvancing the strip. Since this device forms the subject matter of aseparate application, it therefore is shown in somewhat of a general wayin Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 3 the sheet feeding device is shown as it appearsattached near the right end of the platen P before which is shown thediagonally disposed strip S and in front the type wheels 36) of the 407printing tabulator, which type wheels are rotated in-to the printingpositions. At the right end of the platen P, the shaft extends into themechanism casing C and ends with a pair of knobs K and K. The mechanismcase C encloses the low and high speed platen drive means, theperforated tape and control means for the platen drive means.

The means for operating the take-up reel 20 on which the printed stripbecomes coiled as the same unwinds from the supply reel 20a and moveslongitudinally of the printing line, is shown schematically asconstituting a gear 21 secured to the left end of the platen and engagedto another gear 22 in turn attached to a shaft 23 suitably journalled ina frame 24. The opposite end of shaft 23 has secured thereon a sprocketgear 25 which by means of a cooperating sprocket chain 26 imparts motionto another sprocket 27 secured to a shaft 28 also journalled in saidframe 24. Said shaft carries and rotates the take-up reel 20 throughlthe medium of a friction device not shown.

The means for feeding said strip includes a pair of rolls, namely apunch roll and a die roll more clearly shown in Fig. 4. The punch rollincludes a punch for partially piercing the tape while the latter has acooperating die which is further attached to and driven by the vgear21d. The structure just described is somewhat supporting said strip S isshown and described in detailv in the afore-mentioned Nolan application.Member 30 represents friction means for imparting the necessary frictionto the supply reel 20a so as to keep the strip S taut at all times.

As further described in said Rabenda patent the perforated tape whichcontrols the drive of the platen is perforated in accordance with thedistance that the record strip is to be moved. It may further be brieflymentioned that the initiation of a spacing operation is under thecontrol of a signal issuing from the tabulator, such as a signal from aparticular perforation in a card passing through the tabulator, whilethe termination of the spacing operation is under the control of theperforations in the tape of the strip feeding device. It may thereforebe appreciated that by virtue of the controls described, the strip S maybe controlled in a variety of ways to obtain any desired degree ofmovement.

In the present case, for example, the control for initiating stripfeeding is derived from the address cards, particularly those whichcontr-ol printing in printing group 1 of Fig. 1. By means of a 3perforation .in each of these particular cards it will be explainedlater on under circuit description how the strip S is spaced afterprinting has been exercised in printing group 1.

Under the spacing operations of the strip feeding device there is alsoto be considered the suppression of the so-called line spacing operationwhich ordinarily occurs in printing tabulators as an incident to aprinting cycle. In the case of the instan-t application it was earlierexplained in the preparation of the address strip that on certain 4 lineaddresses the printing operations were not exercised. It is -thereforenecessary especially under these conditions to prevent the normal linespacing operations from being effective in order to avoid blank spacesappearing between the parts of each address. The normal line spacingoperations are suppressed for all printing operations by rendering thespace suppression control circuit effeotive for all machine cycles.

Also -to be considered in connection with the operations of the stripfeeding device is the control which must be exercised to insure maximumoperating speeds in the preparation of th-e address strip. The controlconcerns the release of the interlock in the feed control circuits ofthe tabulator. The interlock occurs as an .incident to a strip feedingoperation and is ordinarily effective to disable card feeding operationsof the tabulator in order to forestall printing in flight, especially incases where the time consumed for moving the strip is greater than thetime consumed for one machine cycle. In order to provide for continuousVcard feeding the interlock release is rendered effective at the sametime that a strip spacing operation is initiated. For the present,however, it may be appreciated that the same control which is plugged onthe control panel of the 407 tabulator for causing the spacing of `thestrip S is also plugged to the interlock release.

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION Before describing the circuits in detail there is tobe mentioned the fact that the machine is provided with a series of camcontacts which `are well known .in construction and operation and aredesignated as CR and CF cam contacts. The former open and close for eachmachine cycle while the latter operate only during card readingoperations of the feed accompanied or not by a card feed operation.

Other contacts designated as CB contacts are used as circuit breakersand operate continuously for each machine cycle.

There is also to be mentioned the device known .in the art as a digitselector which is comprised principally of a circular commutator adaptedwith 12 electrical segments isolated from each other anda rotating wiperaroma@ 11 adaptedl to cooperate with each of saidsegments once permachine cycle. The twelve segments correspond to the twelve indexpointpositions ot therecord card and there-` Referring to Fig. 6a, cardfeed operations are initiated by depressing a startkey and closingcontacts 274.where upon `relay R1636P is energized. A hold circuit forthe relay is established through line 921,R1636H, Rl636b, CR6`camcontacts to line 920.` Upon closure of contacts R1636n a pickup`circuit is established for the start relay R1638P beginning with line9,21 and following throughkll, R1636a, (2R36 cam contacts to line 920.Upon closure of contacts R1638b a hold. circuit is establishediforrelays R1638 through R163Sb and CRflA cam contacts. The closure ofcontacts R1638c-energizes relay R1639 when CRS cam contacts makes, Uponthe closure` of `contacts R1639b and CRSS` cam contacts a circuit isestablished to energize clutch maguetZ `which controls'` the means forturning the CF cams of the AInachinc. Simultaneously, the closure ofR1639b and-CRS?"` i camcontacts establishes a` circuit` to energize thepicker clutch magnet 64` and the gripper controlling magnet 53, theformer initiates operations of the picker knives of the card feed asdiagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, while the latter operates` the card`grippenmechanism. Upon operation ofA the picker knives the iirst card ofthe deck is fedA fromthe supply hopper of the card feed to thepresenting station Where la cardV lever V275 is encountered` whereuponcontacts` 27 6. are closed to complete a circuit, .in conjunction with`(2K8 cam contacts, to energize relay 1116251?. The hold circuit forR1628H; is established through contacts R1628a and CFS cam contacts. Themachinewill stop at the end of the first feed cycle unless the startkeyis heldr depressed whereupon feeding will continue unintcrruptedly afterthe rst cycle as long as ithe card lever contacts `276 are closedbyisucceeding` cards.y

On the next succeeding card cycle .and the cyclcsim mediatelythereafter, relays K163i) and R163@ respectively, will be energized tocontrol the circuits to the sensing means in the firstA and secondreading stations. Relay R1630P is energized through CF22; cam contacts,111628!! and CFS cam contacts. A hold circuit therefore is establishedthrough` R1630H, contacts R163@ and CF4` cam contacts. Relay R1632P isenergized through CF23. earn contacts, Rritla` and GF4 cam contacts. Thehold circuit is established through relay R1632H, R1632a, CF3 camcontacts to line 920.

As` further explained in the Rabenda patent theparls are fedsuccessively through the sensing stations by means of the card grippingdevices. Since we are not concerned with any selective controls of thecard feed unit outside of what Vwas described for run-in operations weVmay therefore visualize the feed as running continuously and feedingcards from which the various addresses will be printed on the strip S. i

Card analyzing or reading circuits 8.0 columns in each of the readiesStations. .The Sls n 165 of the first column commutator.

circuit for the first reading station is from the line side 920,-circuit breaker contacts CB14, CF28 cam contacts, iirstreading relayRlflbr contacts which are closed during the analyzing time, thence to awire 990. The wire 99u has a respective wire connection 991 to the brushIt will be recalled that the brush readout 165 makes successive contactwith the contact points 164 and the circuit will be closed through theparticular brush 162 which passes through the card perforation. Eachplate 161 which carries the series of analyzing brushes 162 has a wireconnection to a respective plug socket such as socket 923 in the firstcolumn. For the first reading station there is a series of eighty plugsockets including 923, 925, 942, 942a, 954 and 95441, etc., from whichplug connections are made for control purposes.

The sensing circuit for the second readingstation extends from the CF28cam contacts, thence through the second reading R1632g relay contacts toa wire 992 which has one first wire 993 of multiple wire connections tothe brush readout 165 representative of a series of sensing commutatorsfor the second reading station. There is, likewise, a series of eightyplug sockets including sockets 926, 929, .929m 931, 93151 and 9311) forthe second reading station from which plug connections are made to thedesired controls or printing orders to effect prnting of informationcorresponding to the perforated data.

The CB1-4 circuit breaker contacts are timed to close and open at suchtimes at it will prevent the arcing at the break and make between thebrush readout and the contact points 164 so as to prevent damage at thispoint of contact. The construction and operation of circuit breakercontacts, such as are employed herein, are well known.

The digit selectors 1, 2 and 3 are also shown in Fig. 6b. The digitselector controls the selection of a particular one of a plurality ofpulses introduced into the common input plug socket C. Digit selector 1is connected to column 8O of the second read by means of a plug `wire931e. The digit selector 1 is further shown as having a plug wireconnection 9311 in the 3 plug socket thereof. `Digit selector 2 isconnected by means of plug wire 925; to column S0 of the first read andcontrols the issuance of a l pulse and a 3 pulse along plug wires 925Cand 9255d. 4In like manner digit selector 3 is connected by means of aplug wire r923a to column l of the first read and controls the issuanceof a 3 pulse and a 6 pulse.` The 3 pulse is directed through plug wire923C while .the 6 pulse is directed through plug wires 9,23'b, 15 andPCS. Unidirectional devices UD are included in each of these plug wiresin order. to prevent back circuits. The plug wires 9311, 925C, 92 Sd,923b and 15 are wired to control the operations of so-called pilotselectors which in turn control the selection of the various lines ofaddresses from the cards as well as the control of the storage devicesfor read-in and readout operations. Plug wire 923e controls stripfeeding while plug wire FC3 controls printing groups l and 2.

Storage control circuits Referring to Fig. 6c, there is shown thecircuits associated with storage entry and storage exit operations. Theentry and exit controls are shown in detail only for storage unit A,while the entry and exit storage units B, C and D are shown in blockdiagram form.

The signal for initiating control activities is an all cycle impulsetaken from a row of plug sockets labeled A. C. shown in Fig. 6b. Thissignal starts with line 920 and proceeds through CR49 cam contact; andCRSO cam contact in parallel, R1639/z to the A. C. plug sockets. Forconvenience, it is to be assumed that the impulse extends throughcertain pilot selection controls now considered to be adjusted to passthe signal into avstorage entry control plug socket ARL shown in theright-hand corner of Fig. 6d and then through relay R836P2` shown inAFig.` 6e to line 921. This relay initiates storage control 13activities for storage unit A. A hold circuit for relay R836H extendsthrough R836-1 contacts through CF20 cam contacts to line 920. Uponclosure of R836-2 points and CF21 cam contacts a circuit is completed toenergize relays R837 and R840. The points of the latter relays are shownin Fig. 6c and control the entry of address data into the storage unitwhile a point of relay R836, namely R836-3 controls the energization ofthe storage unit restoring magnet SRA (also shown in Fig. 6c) in orderto prepare the unit for mechanical operations. The circuit controllingthe SRA magnet begins with line 920 and follows through CR59 camcontacts, R836-3 contacts, SRA magnet to line 921.

Address data is introduced into storage by means of plug wireconnections to storage unit entry plug sockets such as 928e shown inFig. 6c. Here, positions 1 and 20 are only shown in detail. In position1 data is entered to energize the ratchet setup magnet SA by means of acircuit beginning with an entry hub 1 and extending through R837-1,R762-1, setup magnet SA to line 921. The contacts R762-1 are undercontrol of a parent relay energized by means of a circuit beginning withline 920 and extending through CR202 cam contacts, relays R762, R761 inseries therewith, to line 921. Simultaneously, relays R765, R766, R769,R77, R773 and R774 are energized by means of the same circuit. Theserelays are used to control various associated points distributedthroughout the entry and exit circuits in order to store the zoneportions, O-X-R, forming a part of the alphabetic characters. The zoneportion of an alphabetic character is admitted into storage by means ofa circuit beginning with plug socket 928e, position 1,. and extendingthrough R837-1, R762-1, now transferred, to set up ratchet magnet SA.

In order to control the readout of data from storage unit A it isnecessary to energize storage exit control relays RSZSH, R829 and R832all of which are shown in Fig. 6e. Usually an all cycle impulse is usedto initiate this activity and for the Sake of convenience in this casethe all cycle impulse is assumed to enter an ARO plug socket shown inFig. 6d. The circuit then continues through said relays RSZSH, R829 andR832 all wired in parallel, to line 921. Energization of these relaysclose associated points in the storage exit circuits of Fig. 6c. Inreading data out of storage, for example the character A, two circuitsare employed one of which emits the numeric portion of the alphabeticcharacter while a second circuit emits the zone portion of thealphabetic character. Since the combination of an R zone and a numeric lconstitutes the character A, the 1 is read out by means of a circuitbeginning with line 920 and extending through CB1-4, total printemitter, at one time (see Fig. 6c), then through an associatedconnecting wire leading to the one spot in the readout commutator of thestorage unit, wiper 59S, common bar 595, R761-1 normally closedcontacts, RSZS-S to the exit socket 941e number l position. The readingout of the zone portion, the R, for example, follows a somewhat similarpath except that the R pulse is emitted at R time through the totalprint emitter and passes through wiper 598', common bar 595', R761-1,now transferred, R828-8 to the same exit plug socket 941e positionnumber l. The readout of data from storage units B, C and D which areshown in block diagram form, is effected through associated plug sockets941b, 941e and 9416!, respectively. The entry of data into storage unitsB, C and D also shown in block diagram form is effected through plugsockets 928b, 928e and 92Sd, respectively.

Strip feeding control circuits Referring to Fig. 6a there is shown insimplified form the circuit controls adapted to control the feeding ofthe strip S on which addresses are printed by the printing devices ofthe 407 tabulator. As briey described earlier the tabulator controlsinitiate strip feeding and the tape afi-ehem governs the terminationofstrip feeding in accordance with the spacing of the perforations 1S inthe tape, seen in Fig. 6a, particularly within the region defined by thedotted lines and indicated as casing C. Also shown therein indiagrammatic form is the mechanism associated with strip feeding and ofwhich brief mention was made earlier. A drive motor M is shown connectedacross the lines 920 and 921 and is used to supply the motive power fordriving the mechanism of the strip feeding means including a tapesensing drum 831 and a circuit breaker 895 which operates the contacts895. The tape sensing drum 831 and the circuit breaker 895 are of courseoperated by clutches in turn controlled by the HS and LS magnets.

The latter is only energized for slow speed operations whereas both areenergized for high speed operations. Since it is desired to produce theaddress strip at maximum speed, the strip feeding controls are thereforeset for high speed operations. Because of this, the HS and LS magnetshave been shown without any individual controls which are shown in theRabenda patent and in greater detail in the patent to A. W. Mills etal., No. 2,531,885, granted November 28, 1950.

Now proceeding with the description of the circuits, the circuit forfeeding the address strip S is initiated by energizing relay R1597P2(see Fig. 6a) under the control of a 3 perforation sensed in column 1 ofthe first read station. The circuit begins at line 920 and extendsthrough CB1-4, CF28 cam contacts, R1630b, wire 991, column l plug socket923, plug wire 923e, plug socket C of digit selector number 3, outputsocket 3, plug wire 923e to plug socket SKIP, relay R1597P2 to line 921.A hold circuit is established for relay R1597H upon closure of R1597-1 nconjunction with CF9 cam contacts (see upper left corner of Fig. 6a).Upon closure of R1597-2 and in accordance with the closure of CR25 camcontacts, relay R1612P is energized. A hold circuit follows for relayR1612H when R1612-1 points transfer. This circuit extends from line 921,wire 921s, wire 921t, wire 921u, relay R1612H, R1612-1 normally openside, R1684drto line 920. Prior to the transfer of points R16121 it maybe appreciated that relay R1673 had been energized by a circuit pathincluding R1612-1 normally closed points in conjunction with R1684dpoints. Thus, when R1612-1 does transfer relay R1673 drops out andaccordingly closes its associated points R1673c to pick up relay R1662under control of CF24 cam contacts. Upon closure of R1662a inconjunction with CR13 cam contacts, a hold circuit is established forrelay R1662H. Also, upon closure of R1662B in conjunction with CR29 camcontacts the strip feed start relay R1676P picks up. A hold circuit forrelay R1676H is established through R1676b and R1684A points. Theclosure of R1676B points in conjunction withy R1683A sets up a circuitto energize the HS magnet which in turn sets up mechanical meansincidental to high speed operations. Also the HS magnet, through anassociated armature HS causes co-ntacts 817 to close thereby caused LSmagnet to be energized whereupon strip feeding means are activated torotate the printing platen P and in accordance with the strip feedingmeans earlier described causes the strip S to be fed diagonally acrossthe printing line of the 407 tabulator.

The strip feeding operation is terminated when perforation 1S in thetape is sensed by the sensing brush B1. When this occurs a circuit isestablished by way of line 920, contacts 895, B13, tape sensing drum831, sensing brush B1, R16122 through strip feeding stop relays R1683and R1684 to line 921. When these relays are energized the point R1683Aimmediately opens up to de-energize the HS and LS magnets. Also theR1684A point opens up to drop out the strip feed start relay R1676.

Pilot selectors The pilot selector is a well-known form of switchingmeans which is generally controlled by a special perforaatthe secondread. Referring to Fig. `6d there are seenthe c controls associated withpilot selector number 1 which is shown in `detail whereas the'remainingpilot selectors 2-16'are'shown in block diagram form. Each pilotselector is provided with an'v X plug socket which admits an X timedimpulse, an I MM plug socketwhich when properlywired operates the pilotselector immediately as opposed to'tlie above-described operation of theselector; av"D, plug socket which admits la wide variety of impulses.ASince we `are not concerned with the controls associated witlithe Xarid the 1MM controls, We shall proceed' with ari explanation ofthecontrols associated with'ithe D plugsocket which when connected to vasignal such as a digit from a perforation `inthe card or an A. Ci.pulse, eausesthe'selector to operateon the following cycle as" earliermentioned. l

The admission of a pulse into the D plug `socket of pilot selector`nuinb e'r"1` causes relay R1513P2 to be energized.` A hold circuitis"immediatelyl established for relay R1513H upon thel closure ofR1513-1Ucontacts in conjunction with CRLtO cam contacts. Upon closure ofR1513f2 in conjunction` with"CF3`1v ca m contacts relay 111515151 isenergized. A hold'circuitis established for relay R1515H upon closure ofR1515-1 in conjunction with CF1() cam contacts. The relay R1S15 isprovided with a pair of` transfer `contacts namely R1515-3 and [(151574.Each of said transfer points is provided with a group of 3 plug socketsnamely C, N, and T. A pulse admitted into the C socket cornes out of theN socket` when lthe pilot selector inoperative; butiwhen the pilotselector is Operated, as described, the pulse entering the C socketcomes out of the QT socket.

lt'niay be noted further that relay numbers are shown within therblocksrepresentingthe pilot selectors PS2.- PStl'of. Each Vo f said designatedrelays is controlled in a manner .similar to the manner of controldescribed for relay R1515` associated with'pilot selector 1. Theserelays in turn control associated'transfer points located tomthe rightof the selectors PS27PS16.` The pilot selectors P812, PS13 Vand P514even though shown are not used in this particular case. Pilot'selectorsP515 and P516y control associated contacts R15V5f7-2, R15517-3 andR15602 all shoyvnlat the` top ef Fig. lq.

Print magnet energizing circuits The circuits for energizing the printmagnets identified4 as 3 61 ai'e shown in Fig. 6c. Here the circuits areshown indetzailvonly for two positions of printing group 1. The gpriiiting groups 2, 3 and are shownl in block. diagram form.V Theaddress data is admitted into printing group `l by'wayof .plug sockets950e, into printing group 2 by way of plug,socketsY .9494, into printinggroup 3 by way of plug lsockets940. Two positionsV namely the first andthelast'ofeach printing i group are shown and as earlier explained anentire 'held representing an address line is admitted' into a pluralityVof. these sockets for printing hs vriaiis lines Qf addrsssflata Q11 ,the'strip S- i 4This ptiltiisr Cirsut @rendermi/he described briefly bymeans of two circuits. The first circuit for energizing the print magnetdetermines the selection of a particular group of characters. The secondcircuit for energizing thesame print ymagnet deterrrnines the particularcharacter tobe printed from ,the group o f characterspreviouslyAselected. The latter circuit controls the `rnearisfor causing hpfitlnsEOP@ afCfCtsd Qn the address strip. The first f :thess- IWO. lCircuitsin .question is initiated when the numeric part or thealphaheticcharacter is admitted to u plugsoclcet 949e. The circuit paththen followsr'through the`n`ormnlly closed cntacts'lof-relay 11933-1,print magnet 361, position l, contacts 165e normally closed, R1041- 1normally closed to line 9271. The operation of contacts 165a is suchthat the transfer operation'isA accomplished plugfsocke'ts`940b `andinto printing 4group 4 by way `of 16 without a breakoccurring in thecircuit. This contact is under` control of the print magnet and theoperation is completely described in the Rabenda patent. It may bementioned briefly that at the end of the numeric pulse the contacts165a` will be shifted to a transferred positionto accept the next inputpulse which incidentally is a zone pulse. The circuit for energizing theprint magnet undercontrol of a' zone pulse begins by admitting the zonepulse at plug socket 949C and then following through R933-il, printmagnet 3 61, contacts 165:1, now transferred, to line EEZ/L1. in thecase of a numeric character, a single pulse is admitted through the plugsocket 940C. The numeric character is then selected for printing undercontrol of the N pulse. The N pulse follows a path beginning with line920 through CR104 cam contacts, 1633-1, now transferred, print magnet361, contacts a, now transferred, to line 921. The contacts R933-1 areunder control of a parentrelay R933 shown in Fig. 6b. The' circuit forenergizing relay R933 begins with line 920 then follows through CRZ!)`cam contacts, PClb normally closed, a unidirectional current device R1,relays R933 and R936ft`o line 921. The group comprising relays R924, andR936, all under control of PC2, are used to control other printingpositions, not shown, of the'machine. It may be briefly mentioned thatthe contacts PCb and EC21; are under control of print control relays toAbe described very shortly. lt may be noted from the timing chart ofFig. 7 that the timing of CRZ i cam contacts overlaps the timing of theN" pulse.

Having briefly explained the manner in which the print magnet isnormally energized to affect printing, there is now to be considered themanner of selectively controlling the printing groups 1 and 2 by meansof novel printing control circuits.

Printing control circuits The printing control circuits are shown in theright half section 'ofv Fig. y6b'. Here there is seen a pair of printingconfrol sockets, namely, printing control number 1 and number 2f Theadmission of an impulse into either or both of ythese two socketsaccordingly suppresses printing in'either'or both of the printingngroups l and 2 in the cycle'in`whicli the pulse -was admitted. Thepulse must, of'couise, b e` admitted before 0 time in the cyclev inorder 5 to prfeyentftheadpfiission 'ofv any zonepulses or the N pulsesintofthe"printmagnet Themmanner of affecting this control isyinitiatedby admitting a "6 pulse by way o'f`afplu`g wirePCSWconnected'between PCI and PC2 socketsiiito the 76. socket ofdigitselector number 3. it may be'noted front Fig.A l that the 16perforation appearslin column lA of the second card of a multipleaddress groupfmBy `virtue ofhthe 6 perforation, printingbfe'lsuppressed:forprinting groups 1 and 2. From Fig., l`it maybenoted'that printing is suppressed in cycles 12 fuor printing groups land 2. The circuit to ,energize the print' control relays PC1 and PC2begins with line 9120 andlextends to CB1-4, CF2S cam contacts, wire19911, column 1, plug socket 923, plug wire 9,23n'commoiijsocket of DS3,6 socket, plug wire RC3,I print control sockets 1 and 2, print controlrelays RC1 and PC2 to line 9241. A hold `circuit for the relays iscontrol of associated contacts, namely, PCla and in conjunction with CRMcam contacts. Upon theftransfer of 4contacts PCi() and PCZb, circuitsare rendered operative to energize relays R924-, R927, R930, R936. Thelcircuit particularly for relay R933 begins with line 9251 i andproceeds through CR117 cam contacts, PCM), now transferred,unidirectional device UD, relay R933 to line 921. Relay R933 is thusenergized until i of the cycle in which it was energized. By virtue ofthis timing, it may be noted that contacts 1&19331-1;seenV in Fig. 6c,will be transferred and thereby prevent'the radmission of any of thezone pulses O, X and Rio the print magnet 361.' Now then after 180 ofthe cycle, the contacts R933-1 will drop back to normal to 17 theposition shown, and by Virtue.v of this,v the N pulse is therebyprevented from reaching the print magnety 361'. Printingl is thussuppressed for printing groups l and'V 2 by virtue of the printingcontrols exercised by the printing control relays PCllr and PC2: in themanner described.

Plugging controls for the pilot selector and the storage units Now thereis to be considered the manner in which the various lines of addressdata are transmitted, by Way of plug wire connections, from the variousfields of address cards to the storage units and they printing groups,and also the plugging connection associated with the control of thepilot selectors.

The plugging associated with the transmission of various lines ofaddresses. has, in a limited sense, been earlier explained inconjunction with Fig. l. However, for the purpose of showing therelationship of this plugging to the plugging controls associated withthe pilot selectors the plugging will be explained in connection withthe Wiring diagram. it may also be mentioned that the single plug wiresare used to represent a plurality of like connections.

Referring to. Figs. 6b and 6c line l is transmitted from socket 942. ornthe rst. read by way of plug wire 10 to plug socket 94de of printinggroup. l.

Line 2 has two paths of transmission to printing group 2. The first pathassociated with iield 2 of a 3 line address.. This path follows throughplug wire lila plugged between second read socket 929 and the C socketassociated with pilot selector contacts R557-2', through the latterpoints then by way of plug wire Hic, plug wire 10d to socket 94th: ofprinting group 2. Line 2 associated with a 4I line address begins withsecond read plug socket 939 then follows along plug wire iilb, then Csocket associated with pilot selector points RS-Z, through the latterpoints now transferred, plug wire 10d to printing group 2.

In connection with the control of line 3 it is. to be mentioned againthat line 3 data is first read into storage and then from storage it ispassed on to printing group 3`. Referring to Fig. l it may be noted thatstorage units A and B are used to store line 3. The path fortransmitting line 3 associatedwith a 3 line address begins with secondread socket 931 then follows along plug Wire 30e, the C socketassociated with pilot selector contacts Rll''-S, plug wire luf tostorage entry A begins with socket 94M, plug wire l2 to. socket 9405 ofprinting group 3. Now when storage B is involved in. conjunction withthe storage of 3 line data, the path is similar to that just describedexcept that storageB rather lthan storage A accept 3 line data. There isalso the path involving line 3 reading from a 4 line address. This pathbegins with second read socket 929 then follows along plug wire ida, theC socket associated with R1557-2 contacts, through the transfer pointsof the latter, plug Wire.1k, storage B entry socket 928i), or, storage Aentry socket 92de depending upon which storage unit is controlled toaccept the 3'line data.

Line 4 is entered into storage unit C or D depending upon which unit isrenderedy operative. The circuit path for transmitting line 4 beginswith second read socket 931, then follows through plug wire e, the Csocket associated with pilot selector contacts R1557-3, through thetransferred contacts of. the latter, plug wire 10g; to storage sockets.928C andl 923e'. The readouty of line 4 from storage C or D. followsalong plug wire'14t By means-of controls which willnext be describedtherevwill be shownhow the storage units A, B, C. and D' are. controlledin their entry and exit operations.`

In- Fig. 6d there are. shown the various. plug wire. connectionsassociated withthe operations of' they storage units. A,l B, C. and D.Each storagey unity has an entry control'socket and` anexitcontrolsocket. Storage unit .for example, has a pair of associatedcontrolsockets,

namely,. A-RI: and ARO.. The ARI denotes storage A read-in; i. e., entrycontrol: for storage unit A. The ARO denotes' storage A readout; i. e.,storage A exit control. In like' manner apair of similar sockets areassociated With each' of the remaining storage units B, C and D. Thesesockets are identied BRI, BRO, CRI, CRO, DRi andfDRO.

lt is further seen in Fig. 6d that these storage control sockets areconnected by means of plug wires Sie, Sie, 52e, 53a, 61C, 59b, 57C and62a to a host of pilot selecter contacts in turn controlled byassociated pilot selectors PS1 through PSII. These pilotr selectorsarecontrolled by the special perforations in column l and in column of theaddressy cards. These special perforations are routed through the digitselectors i, 2 and 3', shown in Fig. 6b. From these digit selectors theplug wires 931]@ 92312, 925C and 9255! are connected in various ways-toaffect control over the pilot selectors. There are also includedinthepilot selector control circuits a number of plug connections labeled A.C. which connections are plugged toy the A. C. sockets shown in Fig. 6b.

In order to facilitate an explanation of the control circuits` involvedVin Fig. 6d, reference is invited to the operational chart shown in Fig.8'. This chart is drawn upy to indicate the activities of storage unitsand the pilot selectors 1` through lil for l2 cycles of operation whichcorrespondsV to the l2 cycles of operation shown in Fig. l. At the topof the chart of Fig. 8, there are shown the operationalV perfor-ationswhich appear in columns land 80 of the address cards. lt must beappreciated in connection` with this part ofthe chart that the locationsrepresenting columns l and 8i) bear no timing relationship to the restof the chart wherein are` shown the timings'for the pilot selectors andthestorage units. The locations ofcoluinns l and 80 and theAperforations showntherein areY presented merely as an expedient' toindicate what particular operational perforations are` available in anyparticular cyclel of operation.

Thetimingsshown in-the chart of Fig. 8v are each represented by a linehaving a broken portion and a solid portion. The broken portion of thevlinev denotes that pickup controls are exercised' on a particular pilotselector or storage unit for read-in or readout operations. The solidportion of the line indicates thatV the particular pilot selector orstorage unit is operated. For example, in cycle l a" broken portion ofthe line for pilot selector number 1 indicates pickup control- While thesolid portion of the same-line shown in cycle 2VV indicates that theVpilotV selector number 1 is actually picked up, in other words, thetransfer points associated with the pilot selector are transferred inthe secondV cycle. In the case of the storage unitcontrols the brokenportion: and the solid portionv have the same signiiicance. For example,in cycle l the read-in controls for storage ARI are being picked up. incycle l while in cycle 2 the storage unitA is actually undergoingA aread-in operation.

I-n accordance with Fig; l and the wiring controls shown in thewiringjdiagrani, it has beenl explained how line 1 andI line. 2 are readfrom the address cards and printedoutof printing-groups l and 2,respectively. The control: for the selection of line 2 fromv either a 3line or a 4 line address is under control of pilot selectors PSIS andP516 both. wired in parallel by' means. of plug wire 923s, seen. in.Fig. 6d. Itmay bey appreciated that plug, wire 15 conveys a 6. pulsefrom DS3 to pilot selectors PS1-5- and PSM: In Fig.y l therev isseenthat the. 6 pulse is. read.. from the second card of a 4 lineaddress and` may be. seen to appear in the second card of addressgroups3.,v 4, 6 and 8. Inthe cycles in which pilot selectors P815 and P816 areeffective, line 2 is printed from eld 2 of the 4- line address groups.On the stripY this. shows up` as A3L2, A4L2 and A6L2 all printed outythe printing' group 2. The' remaining notations, namely, AlLl, A2L2,A5L2 and A7L2 are printed 'F9 from eld 2 of a 3 line address when thepilot selector PS1-5 and P516 are de-energized.

Now in connection with the controls for effecting printing of line 3there is to be considered the storage entry and exit controls forstoring line 3. Beginning with cycle 2, it may be seen in Figs. 1 and 8that pilot selectors l and 3 are energized and that storage unit Aundergoes a read-in operation while storage B undergoes a readoutoperation. Considering the latter, nothing is read out since no data wasfed into storage B. In the case of storage A, A1L3 is entered therein.Referring to the chart of Fig. 8, cycle 2, the pilot selectors PS1 andPS3 were picked up as a result of a 3 perforation in column 80initiating the control in cycle l. This 3 pulse is transmitted by way ofplug wire 925:1 to the pickup of pilot selector PS3, seen in Fig. `6dand to pilot selector 1 by way of plug wire 52a, R1513-3, plug wire 50hto pickup of pilot selector 1. It may be fur ther seen that plug wire51C transmits the 3 pulse to the ARI socket of storage unit A. Now inFig. l it may be seen that address data read into storage A is indicatedas AlL3. In cycle 2 of Fig. 8 it is also seen that pickup controls areexercised for pilot selectors PS2 and PS3. In cycle 3 it is seen thatthese selectors are picked up. The control in this case is againinitiated by a 3 in column 80 of the first read. The 3 pulse istransmitted by way of plug wire 9256i, then pickup socket for pilotselector number 3, plug wire 52a, R1513-3, now transferred,`to thepickup socket of pilot selector number 2 and also to storage BRI socketby way of plug wire 51a. Also in cycle 3, storage A will undergo areadout. The control of storage A for a readout is traced as follows:Beginning at the ARO socket then through plug wire 52C, R1518-4, nowtransferred, 53b, R1521-3, now transferred, plug wire 53C extending tothe A. C; socket shown in Fig. 6b. Now in Fig. l it may be seen that incycle 3, A2L3 is entered in storage B, while A1L3 is read out of storageA. AlL3 is printed onrthe strip S from printing group l. In cycle 3 ofFig. 8, a pickup is effected for pilot selector PS2 so as to cause thesame to be `energized in cycle 4. This operation is under control of` a1 pulse coming from column 80 of the first read. The l pulse ischanneled through DS2 and follows along plug `wire 925C, plug wire 50c,R1518-3 now transferred, plug wire 52h to the pickup socket of pilotselector number 2. By means of this control, pilot selector number 2will be energized in cycle 4. Considering the storage activity in cycle4, it is noticed that no read-in or readout operation is effected. Thereason for this may be appreciated by referring to Fig. 1, cycle 4,which shows that the first card of a 4 line address is in the secondread while the second card of the same address is in the first read. Inview of this, printing is not effected nor is there any address dataavailable for storage from the address card in the second read.Referring to Fig. 8, it is further seen that pickup controls are againeffected for pilot selector PS1 and PS2 under control of a 3 in column80. Also in this cycle, pickup controls are effected for pilot selectornumber S.` It is further seen that read-in pickup controls are initiatedfor storage units A and C while readout controls are also initiated forstorage unit B. The effect of this may be seen in cycle 5 of Fig. l.There we see that A3L3 and A3L4 are read into storage units A and C,respectively, while A2L3 is read out of storage B and printed out ofprinting group 2. In the same cycle it may be seen that A4Ll and A2L3are printed out of printing groups l and 3, respectively. The pickupcontrols for pilot selector PS8 and storage C read-in are initiated by a6 readout of column 1 of the rst read. The 6 pulse is routed `throughPS3 and then follows along plug wire 925b into the C socket associatedwith R1527w3, plug wire 56h to the pickup socket of pilot selector PS8and to CRI socket by way of plug wire 57C.

In cycle 5, pickup controls are initiated for pilot selectors PS1, PS4and PS5 to cause the same to be energized for cycle 6. The pickup forselector PS1 has been described. The pickup for pilot selectors PS4 andPS5 begins with an A. C. pulse transmitted along plug wire 58a to the Csocket associated with RIEN-3 now transferred, plug wire 57a to thepickup socket of PS4 and PS5. In cycle 6 the storage units are notactive. Re ferring to Fig. 1, it is seen that conditions` in cycle 6 aresomewhat the same as they were in cycle 4 because of the presence of thefirst card of a 4 line address in the second read and the presence ofthe second card of the same 4 line address in the iirst read. In thiscycle, cycle 6, the pickup controls for storage ARO, BRI and DRI areinitiated. Also pickup controls are initiated for pilot selectors PS2,PS3, PS4, PS5 and PSII. Pickup controls for storage DRI and pilotselector PS1! are effected through plug wire 92311 along which a 6 pulseis routed through R1527-3 now transferred, plug wire 56a, R1533-3, plugwire 58e to the pickup socket of pilot selector P811 and also to DRIsocket by way of plug wire 62a.

Cycle 7, in the chart in Fig. 8 shows that pilot selectors PS2, PS3,PS4, PS5 and PSII are energized. Also in operation are storage units A,B and D. To appreciate the significance of this, reference is alsoinvited to Fig. 1 where in cycle 7 there is seen that A3L3 is read outof storage A and printed out of printing group 3 while A4L2 and ASLl aresimultaneously printed out of print groups 1 and 2, respectively. AlsoA4L3 and A4L4 are being entered into storage E and D.` ln order to setup conditions for cycle 8, pickup controls are initiated in cycle 7 forpilot selectors PS1, PS3, PS6, PS7 and PS9. Also in cycle 7, pickupcontrols are initiated for storage units A, B and C, that is, read-infor storage A and readout for storage units B and C. The pickup controlfor selectors PS5 and PS7 in cycle 7 is initiated by a 3 read fromcolumn 80 of the second read. The 3 is routed through DS1 along the plugwire 931]L to the C socket associated with R1537-3, plug wire 55e,REM-4, now transferred, plug wire 55h, the C socket associated withR153tl-4, plug wire S812 to the pickup socket of PS6, and by way of plugwire 56C to the pickup socket of PS7.

The pickup for PS9 begins with an A. C; pulse car ried along plug wire63a to the socket associated with R1545-3, through the transfer pointsof the latter, plug wire 60e to the pickup socket of PS9.

In cycle 8 it is seen that pilot selectors PS1, PS3, PS6, PS7 and PS9are energized. Also storage units A, B and C are active, storage A readsin while storage units B and C read out. Referring to cycle 8 in Fig. l,it is noted that A5L3 is read into storage A while A4L3 and A3L4 areread out of storage units B and C, respectively, and printed out ofprinting groups 3 and 4, respectively. It is also to be noted that A5L2and A6Ll are also printed in this cycle out of printing groups 2 and l,respectively.

Having gone through the various plugging controls, it is believed thatfurther detailed explanation of the plugging controls is unnecessary,since the operations may be followed in accordance with the pattern oftimings shown in the chart of Fig. 8 in conjunction with Fig. l.

Detection of missing cards and cards not in proper sequence There arenow to be considered the controls which are provided to stop the machinein the event a card is missing from a multiple card group, or, the cardsin the multiple card group are reversed, 0r, when the cards in themultiple card group are in sequence but are not of nieuwe@ .251secondrcard comesbeforefthelfirstfcar the contrlswill also provide asignal. ln' the "last condition, namely :when the'cards of the .groupfare in-proper sequencerelativeito first and second positions but are ofydifferent '-.address groups, a signal lwill also Vbe provided.

The means for providing-a-:signaliforeachfof thefconditions describedinclude the 'well-known :group fcontrol circuits used. in conjunctionwith a Avpilot selectorcontrolled by a special perforation appearing':incolumn 8O ofthe first address card.

The group control vis a Well-known vvmeans found .in record controlaccounting machines. Briey/,such means includes devices for analyzingthe holes in corresponding card columns of successively fe'd cards forydetermining the presence of similar ordissirnilarholes .in the comparedcolumns, and upon detectinga group number change, total takingoperations are initiated.

Since the present invention isin'ot concerned withtotal takingoperations, 'the group control :signal is 'therefore not used 'for totaltaking operations, instead,fit is 4used :to stop the machine so .that aniimmediate inspection can be made of the cards.

Since .the group Ycontrol circuitsare well known in .the art they areshown .in diagrammatic .form .in .the rcircuit tof Fig. 9. Here Wefindthat :the groupicontrol is "represented by a box to which `areconnected .sockets 943, 945 and 9a7. Within the box are .seen two relaynumbers, namely, R593 and R594. In the aforementionedkabenda patent,particularly in Fig. f3ld, kandas further .explained in `said patentbeginning on page `58 under the heading .fof Automatic group control,the sockets 9.43, ".945 :and 947 Jtogether with the relays R593 and R594:are-concerned with groupv .control operations. As explained insaidRabenda patent, the socket 943 is connected-to a :secondrread'socketwhile socket 945 is connected Ato a corresponding first 1 read socket.By virtue .of these .connections and a plurality of similarcorresponding connections, .the :cards .are analyzed on the basisofgroup control. In the eventrof a change from one group of lcards toanothergroup, a signal is provided at socket 1.947. Nowthenfin thecardsused in the illustrative example in -Fig. 1 ofthe instant case .it Yisunderstood, even :though =not shown, that a group control number isrecorded ineach .of Ithezaddress cards. This control number ispartof-thenormakproce- .dure attending the preparation of vaddress cards .inaccounting operations and is the .means whereby -related cards arebrought together invthe-sameQ-group. 'Ifhegroup control number, ofcourse,occupies agpluralityofcolumns in the card. In the circuit1of.Fig. 9, -asingle sample :da-

y-grammatic circuit is .shown which includes asecondread socket942aconnected by means .of a plug wire 7.2b lto .group control socket 943.Also, a first-read .socket 9421' connected yby means of a ,plug wirel"12a .to a corresponding group control socket 947. In the event of adisagreement in the group control numbers in the "cards being analyzed,a signal istprovided .atthe socket.947. It is further seen thatsocket`947 is connected by means of a plug wire 72e to the Tsocketassociated with pilot selector PSlS'b :contacts'inturncont-rolled by apilot selector"P'SI-7. The T socketof pilot `selector AP5157isconnected-by way of a plug wire l73a tothe `1 socket-of afdigitselector @S5 shown in -block Ydiagram form. The fC socket 'of 'DSS isconnected-by way of plug Wire 71b to socket 923s representing column80-of the-first read. fBy -meanstofthe-circuit just traceda "1 sensed4in-column'i() initiatesipickup controls for PS17 so as to cause theselector to be energized on the following cycle. An inspection of cardsin Fig. l shows that the "1 appears in the first card of the two-cardaddress groups while a "6 appears in column 1 of the second card of theaddress groups. The "6 is conveyed through socket 923, plug wire 71a,the C socket of digit selector D84, through the 6 socket thereof, plugwire 73h to the N socket of pilot selector contacts PSlb. The C socketof PS17b is connected by means of `plug wire 74a to a socket 74bconnected to a stop relay '22 The :stop relay Twhen #energized closescontacts RSlaCto '.establish a :hold -tcircit beginning with line .920and'exten'ding .through .GRZcam contacts, .RSTa contacts, relay :RSTHztodine 921.

.The contacts .RSTbrare placed inthe circuit controlling the picker:knife clutch .magnet :64. This magnet `controls the operation of thepicker knives'in .the card feed of the 407 .tabulaton -When'the pickerknives fail to feed a card the 407 tabulator `stops running in the-manner-described in the said Rabenda'patent. Toexplain theoperations-ofthe circuit, first, it will be :assumed that the first card of atwo-card address :group is missing. Under this condition, :PS17'failsltopickfup. Accordingly, PS15b enables the 6 pulse of the second card topass through PS1-7b to pick up .the .stop relay iRS[`:.tofstop themachine.

On I.the other hand, `when vthe first card is present and the secondcard is-absent .the stop relay RST is picked -up by virtue of the groupcontrol pulse passing through socket 947, PS1-7b now transferred,through -plug wire 74a to thelstop .relay RST. In this-example, PS17 isenergized-by y-virtue 1of 'cthe .1 ypulse sensed from column 80 ofthefirst card. This -causesfPS1-7 to be energized on the following cyclewhen the first card enters the second read .at the same .time that then'extcard of lthe following :addressgroup'enters the firstrea'd. Thegroup control senses a disagreement and provides a signal out of socketv947 which -is conveyed Vthrough plug lwire 72C, PS17b nowtransferred,'to.the.stop relay-RST.

Under the conditions -of a reversal .in .the `sequence of the first andsecond `cards-.of an address group, the second cardentersthe firstreadfbefore the-first card, hence a "6 pulse AApasses :through PS17bbefore 'it has an opportunity to transfer, :hence ,the .stop relay RSTis picked up.

Intthe last condition, ine., when the cards in the'multiple card groupare `.in sequence .butare not of the same address group, .thestopzrelayispicked up by virtue of the fact that .the :first-.card containing the1 causes PS17 to be .energized on the following .cycle .in which cycle a`disagreementis sensed .by thefgroup control. The group .control .pulse.then passes `through yplug wire 72C, =PS17b `now transferred, plug`wire 74a to the .stop relay RST.

While .there have been shown and described vand pointed outthefundamental novel features of V.the-.invention .as applied .to .a:preferred embodiment, it will Vvbe understood vthat .various omissionsand substitutions and changes .in the formand detailsof the deviceillustrated and vin its operation maybe madeby those Vskilled .in theart, .without departing from .the spirit of the invention. It iis .theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated .by the .scope `of.the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. .In `a .cyclically -operating record .controlled printing machine,the .combination with a plurality .of banks .of `print `members.arranged in a single row, -for .printing .respective lines Aof amultiple line address, .or .the like, and -means .to feed .a recordstrip intermittently `in .a slanting direction along the row .ofprinting members, whereby 'line spacing of the strip occurs as anincident to feed ofthe strip to bring successive areas thereofsuccessively opposite vthe respective banks of printing members; ofrecord reading means includinga'plurality'of groups of sensing elements,at `least Vone o'f-sa'id Agroups oaf-sensing elementsbeing arranged atone reading station and at least-one other of said groups of sensingelements at 4another reading station, means yfor feeding records singlyin sequence to said record reading means, said record feeding meansbeing adapted to feed each record first to one of said reading stationsand then to the other, said strip feeding means being adapted to feedthe strip from one bank of print members to the next in time with thefeeding of a record from one reading station to the next, one of saidbanks of print members being normally controlled by a group of sensingelements at one reading station adapted to read one field of the recordsand another of said banks of print members

